Rescue ops hampered by waterlogging in Tapovan tunnel

Tribune News Service

Joshimath, February 17

Rescuers pumped out water accumulated in the NTPC’s flood-ravaged Tapovan tunnel on Wednesday as they continued efforts on the 11th day to find survivors of the glacial disaster.

Sludge clearing at the tunnel was temporarily suspended since Tuesday evening due to seepage of water which was flushed out with the help of submersible pumps provided by the NTPC, NDRF Commandant PK Tiwari said.

“Removal of wet debris with JCBs is difficult. So it was decided to resume muck clearing only after flushing out water accumulated inside the intake adit tunnel,” he said.

Search teams today failed to retrieve even a single body from the two rescue sites.

A senior official, who is supervising the rescue and search operations after the floods in Dhauliganga and Rishiganga, said as the 180-m main tunnel was now completely waterlogged, efforts were on to clear it by using high-power pumps.

“We have sent a team to Gaurikund as we have received information that many stray dogs are wandering in the areas,” he said.

A team of the ITBP and DRDO has reached the Murenda area near Raini village, where a natural lake has formed after the floods. The ITBP team surveyed the area and assessed the threat level in the lake formed due to the flashfloods.

(With inputs from PTI)